Kate writes a bi-weekly column for the Burton Mail. This column was originally featured in the 7th April print edition.
Burton’s story, and its success, is built on its natural assets. The River Trent, and the quality of the local water, with its natural properties, is why people first choose to brew beer here.
Significant investment is being made through the Town Deal to enhance the washlands area and ensure the River Trent is an integral part of our town centre once again. However, residents will share my concerns about the recent discolouration of the River Trent and what may have caused this. I wrote to the Environment Agency on this matter and they told me that they had identified the company responsible for what was silt pollution and they are now considering enforcement action.
Last year, I was proud to vote for the Government's Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan. This week, the Government announced that it was speeding up the implementation of this plan, which requires water companies to upgrade their systems and treat sewage before discharging it. This is the largest ever environmental infrastructure investment, costing £56 billion over the next 25 years, with initial targets for improvement across England by 2025.
Residents can be assured that the Government is clamping down on shareholder pay-outs and making sure water companies put customers first, the first Government to put this requirement on the sector.
Increased monitoring, driven by the Government, has also led to The Environment Agency and Ofwat launching the largest criminal and civil investigations into water company sewage discharges ever. Ofwat can fine companies up to 10% of annual turnover and the Environment Agency will act against non-compliance, which can include criminal prosecution for which there can be unlimited fines. Courts also have legal powers to prosecute CEOs and company directors where there is evidence against those individuals and where it is in the public interest to prosecute.
Upgrading the Victorian-age sewage systems to meet modern needs and environmental targets is a big task, and it won't happen overnight. It's essential that we address this issue, but we must do so in a way that doesn't put the burden on billpayers.
Any residents who witness any environmental incidents should report these to the Environment Agency by calling their 24-hour hotline on 0800 807 060.
